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Lessons from Humpty

Guest post by: Terri Levine

Article Overview: What does Humpty have to do with anything? A lot if our career lies in ruins and we don't know how to put the pieces back together again...

Lessons from Humpty

Life is like nursery rhymes in so many ways. Think of Humpty Dumpty for example. He faced great odds and his challenges as a fragile egg were enormous and when the inevitable happened, he couldn't be saved. Would he wanted to have been saved? He didn't have much going for him, but then who are we to judge? Maybe sitting on that wall was his greatest achievement!

How many times have you heard someone say, "Losing my job was the best thing that ever happened to me!" For that matter, it can be anything they've lost but it comes down to one door closing before another one can open. When we hear people celebrate about a negative event such as losing one's job, we're often bewildered. What's there to be happy about?

Very few of us begin our careers with the intent of doing something else later. We don't envisage mid life crises or losing interest in our occupation. After all, we've invested quite a bit in getting to where we are. Much like Humpty Dumpty, we proudly sit atop our wall of achievements and accomplishments giving little thought to doing anything else.

However, with today's changing climate, it's likely that sometime in our working lives we will find ourselves tumbling from our safe perch. For most of us the great fall occurs when we lose our job through downsizing; our company is bought out by another or merges with another and we no longer enjoy our situation; or our job is the same but we've changed and we aren't as enthusiastic about it as we once were.

So... we tumble and fall like Humpty. Maybe we bounce, if we're hard-boiled, and can pick ourselves up and waddle off onto greener pastures, but what if we're soft-boiled and crack? How can we put ourselves back together again? Here's how:

First you must let go of the past. Do acknowledge your loss and the feelings that go with it but don't dwell on it to the exclusion of all else. It is perfectly natural to go through a period of mourning for a lost career but with support from your family and friends and even a coach, you can work through it and find the silver lining.



Next, review your past - what can you learn from what you have done before?

What aspects did you enjoy? What energized you? What were you most proud of accomplishing? What things did you tolerate? What made your blood boil? Do you see any common threads appearing?



Now make an effort to know yourself really well. Identify your skills. Listen to your dreams and desires. Write a list of your needs and wants. Look at the labels you've given yourself. Liberate yourself from the beliefs you drag around with you. While it may sound simple, this step can be quite daunting. As the familiar saying goes, "It's difficult to see the picture when you're inside the frame." You can jumpstart this discovery process by partnering with someone who is objective, honest and dedicated to your success - such as a personal coach or a career counselor. Working with a partner dramatically expands your perspective and keeps you anchored as you explore uncharted waters.

Next, create a destination with soul. Just as change begins with an ending, change ends with a new beginning. Set your sights on a place where your head lines up with your heart. A place built upon the solid foundation of your values, special skills and unique gifts. Use your magic wand and paint the perfect setting for your future. What features from your previous jobs do you want to include? How can you best honor your values and share your gifts? Where do you want to be in five years? How do you want to be spending your time? Honor your dreams.

Finally, enjoy the journey. Now that you know who you really are and where you want to go, the next step is getting there. To make sure your trip is effortless, do some strategic planning before you start out. When's the best time to begin? Does it make sense to break the journey down into small pieces? What obstacles do you anticipate encountering? What's your plan for navigating around these obstacles? What type of resources do you need? What's a realistic and energizing timeline? How will you gauge your progress?

As you continue your journey, remember to look around and take time to enjoy the scenery and stop to smell the roses! You don't want to be so focused on your plan that you miss out on wonderful and unexpected opportunities along the way either.

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Humpty might not have been able to be put back together, but then he didn't have this knowledge. But you do. Question is, will you be wise and do something with it, or let your life lay around you like fragile egg pieces?

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Article Tags: career, losing your job, picking yourself up, success



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